Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1887-12-09

1aAaGiOu. Ou&H6 W Do dG once revised ana
amended. These laws, as their primary
and plain effect, raise the prices to con-
sumers of all articles imported and subject
duties Thus the, am amount @ pf f the he duty duty
measures the tax paid by those who pur-
chase for use these imported articles.
Many of these things. however, are raised
or manufactured in our own country, and
THE DUTIES NOW LEVIED UPON FOREIGN
GOODS
and products are called protection to these
home manufactures, because they render
it possible for those of our people who are
manufacturers to make these taxed arti-
cles and sell them for price equal to that
demanded for the imported goods that have
paid customs duty. So it happens
that while comparatively a few use
the imported articles, millions of our
people, who never use and never
saw any of the foreign products, purchase
and use things Of the same kind made in
this country and pay therefore nearly or
duty adds to the imported articles. Those
who buy imports pay the duty charged
thereon into the public treasury, but the
great majority of our citizens. wh) buy
domestic articles of the same class, pay a
sum at least approximately equal to this
to the operation of our tariff laws is not
made by way of instruction., but in order
that we may be constantly reminded of the
manner in which they impose burden
upon those who consume domestic products
as we'll as those who consume imported ar
ticles, and thus create tax upon all our
people: 1t is not proposed to entirely re-
lieve the country Of this taxation 1t must
be extensively continued as the source of
the governments income, and in read
justment of our tariff the interests of
American labor engaged in manufacture
should be carefully cOnsided, as well as
the preservation of our manufacturers. 1t
may be called protection, or by any other
name, but relief from the hardships and
be devised with especial precaution against
imperiling the existence of our manufac-
turing interests. But this existence should
not mean condition which, without regard
to public welfare or national exigency,
must always insure the realization of i'm
mense profits instead of moderately. profit
ably returns. AS the volume and diversity
of our national activities increase, new
recruits are added to those who desire a
continuance OF the advantages which they
conceive the present system of tariff taxa
ton directly affords them. So stubbornly
have all efforts to reform the present con-
dition been resisted by those Of our fellow
complain OF the suspicion entertained to a
certain extent that there exists an organ
lied combination all along the line to main
tain their advantage. We are in the midst
of centennial celebrations and with becom-
ing pride we rejoice in
AMERICAN SKILL AND INGENUITY,
in American energy an enter
prise and in the wonderful natural ad-
vantages and resources developed by
the country's national growth. Yet, when
an attempt is made to justify scheme
which permits tax to be laid upon every
consumer in the land for the benefit Of our
manufacturers quite beyond reasonable
demand for governmental regard, it suits
the purposes of advocacy to call our man.
ufacturers infant industries, still pending
in the highest and greatest degree
of every favor and fostering care
that can be wrung from federal
legislation. 1t is also said that it
lures resulting from the present tariff is
necessaro in order that higher wages may
be paid to workingmen employed in man
ufactories than are paid for what is called
the pauper labor of Europe. All will
acknowledge the force of an argument
which involves the welfare and liberal
compensation of our laboring people.
American citizen, as it lays the foundation
Of our development and progress. 1t is
entitled, without atfectation or hypocrisy,
to the utmost regard. The standard
of our laborers' life should not
be measured by that Of any, other
are entitled to their full share of all our ad-
vantages. BY the last census it is made to
appear that of the II, 7,392.O99 of our popula-
ton engaged in all kinds of industries,
1870, ,493 are employed in agriculture, 4,O74.-
2S8 in professional and personal service,
2,944,8 ,876 of whom are domestic servants
and laborers, while 1,810,256 are employed
in trade and transportation and $685., ,112
are classed as employed in manufacturing
and mining. For .preseut purposes. how
ever, the last number given should be con-
siderably reduced. Without attempting to
enumerate all, it will be conceded that
there should be deducted from these which
it includes S75, ,14S carpenters and joiners,
stresses, 172,726 biacksmiths, 1876 tailors
and tailoresses, 100,473 masons, 1924
butchers, 43,SO9 bakers, 22OSS plasterers
and 1891 engaged in manufacturing agri-
cultural implements, amounting in
the aggregate to 1,514,08, leay-
ing 2,623,089 persons employed in such
to be benefited D. high tariff. To these
the appeal is made to save their employ
ment and maintain their wages by resisting
a change. There should be disposition
to answer such suggestions by the allega-
ton that they are in minority among
those who labor and therefore should fore
go an advantage in the interest of low
prices for the majority. Their cOmpensa-
ton, as it may be affected by the operation
of the tariff laws, should at all times be
scrupulously kept in view, and yet with
slight reflection they will not overlook the
fact that
THEY ARE CONSUMERS WITH THE REST
that they too have their own wants and
those of their families to supply from their
earnings, and that the price of the neces-
saries of life. as well as the amount of
their wages, will regulate the measure of
their welfare and comfort, but the reduc-
ton Of taxation demanded should be SO
measured as not to necessitate or justify
either the loss of employment by the work
ing man or the lessening of his wages, and
the profits still remaining TO the manufac-
turer, after o necessary readjustment,
should furnish no excuse for the